How-To Geek

It's no secret that Ryobi gets a lot of hate on forums and social media, but for the average homeowner or DIYer, they're more than enough. There's a reason it's one of the most popular power tool brands in the US. That said, there are instances where your Ryobi tools could be holding you back.

Most people who switch away from Microsoft 365 end up trading one subscription for a pile of disconnected free tools. Nextcloud is actually so much better than that. Nextcloud replaces many services and apps, like file storage, document editing, video calls, shared calendars, project boards, and a lot more under your control.

The topic of RAM doesn't bring any smiles these days. The RAM-pocalypse made sure of that. But recently, I started thinking about DDR5 RAM in particular, and how it might just be the one generation of DDR (not to be confused with Dance Dance Revolution) that'll never really take off.

A little while ago, my Linux machine was running excruciatingly slow. I attempted a few fixes: data management, optimization, adjusting Timeshift backups. That sort of thing. During that adventure, I found a few processes that were still causing performance issues. So I turned to Linux Namespaces to improve the visibility of my system processes and run applications safely.

USB devices are often fairly small, and old devices can end up being thrown into your junk drawer and forgotten about. If you replace a USB device with something else, or no longer need it for its original purpose, your USB device can end up gathering dust, but you may be able to repurpose it for Home Assistant.

I've recently spent a lot of time testing ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and other AI tools with Excel, and one thing stands out: the more relevant detail you give them, the less time you spend correcting their answers. But creating a good AI prompt can take longer than doing the Excel task yourself, and that kind of defeats the point. So, to save you the bother, I've broken down the key parts of a useful Excel prompt so you can build one without starting from scratch.

Original programming has been dominating Prime Video's top 10 in August, with Reacher season 4 and Sterling Point season 1 sitting at Nos. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Beyond the list of new and returning shows this month, Prime Video has a stacked library of licensed shows that appeal to mass audiences.

GM has sold hands-free highway driving capability under the Super Cruise name since 2017, marketing it as one of the most capable systems on the road. New GM buyers get three years of Super Cruise with select vehicles, but once that trial ends, most don't pay to renew the feature each month. Only 30 to 40% choose to keep it, according to a company announcement GM made in April 2026.

The list of new and returning shows to watch this weekend is all about variety—five shows across five different streaming services. On Netflix, one of the streamer's most popular young adult dramas comes to an end with its fifth and final season. I've watched this adventure show since the beginning, so it's my top pick of the week.

Cold storage is all about keeping your files and making them last for years, just in case you ever need to retrieve them to look at old memories. Improper methods of storage can cause those memories to be lost forever, which is why some formats are better than others for storing stuff over the long term.

A few years ago, I discovered the joys of listening to music via the command line. Despite my background in TV and production, I've never been much of a video guy. But that changed (slightly) when I discovered a few cool ways to play and stream video to my Linux Terminal.

If you're shopping for a reliable compact car, Toyota is probably the first brand that comes to mind. But according to current reliability data, one of its most popular rivals actually scores higher. With an 86/100 quality and reliability rating from J.D. Power, low estimated maintenance costs, and one of the strongest warranty packages in the industry, this affordable Korean sedan makes a compelling case for looking beyond the usual Japanese choices.

If you're an HBO Max subscriber in the U.S. and you've been paying attention, this part of August is still basking in the bloody chicklets of Bob Odenkirk's new action flick, Normal; Conan O'Brien is about to sprawl himself across the globe again in a new season of Conan O'Brien Must Go; and the DC Universe is expanding a little more on the service with Lanterns.

The BIOS is something many people just choose to ignore entirely. That's okay, I guess—your PC should usually work even if you never set foot in the BIOS/UEFI. But some BIOS tweaks can really improve your computer.

There's nothing wrong with wandering down to Harbor Freight and picking up a cheap cordless power tool like a drill, especially if you only plan on using it occasionally around the house. That said, there are several reasons why a more expensive model is the better route, including these often-overlooked features.

Last week, my internet started acting up. It wasn't completely down, but web pages were loading slowly, and my video meetings kept having connection problems. I rebooted my mesh network and modem, but the problem kept coming back. At that point, I knew it was time to dig a little deeper.

It’s no secret that the leap from the Pixel 10 series to the Pixel 11 series is pretty minimal. One of the few genuinely new features is the “HiLight” LED notification light on the back of the Pro models. Unfortunately, Google heavily limited what it can do, but that’s not a problem for the Android community.

BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz may be the default names that come to mind when you're shopping for a luxury SUV, but their base models don't always offer the value their badges suggest. The 2026 Acura RDX takes a different approach, giving every buyer a 272-horsepower turbocharged engine and a useful list of standard equipment.

The Gmail app can be a treasure trove for all your work, personal, and social emails, but it's not always neat. My inbox easily gets flooded with emails from work, subscriptions, and personal commitments. The good news is that the fixes are hiding in plain sight.

If you hate the thought of replacing your wireless earbuds every few years as the batteries wear out, you now have an easy-to-buy solution. Sennheiser has introduced the Momentum True Wireless 5 with user-replaceable batteries in both the buds and the case.